Highland barley, also known as qingke in Chinese, is the principal food grain in southwest China's Tibet. Qingke is traditionally used to make alcoholic spirits or zanba, a staple food for Tibetans made from roasted qingke flour, but now new products made from qingke, such as beer and cornmeal, sel like hot cakes.

Highland barley is quite nutritious, rich in mineral elements. It is a unique health food believed capable of reducing blood fats, improving digestion, and preventing diabetes and altitude sickness.